(ARA)
- So much more than mopping and dusting, "spring cleaning"
as we have come to know it, is about renewing and refreshing
our living environment. To make a notable difference this year,
spruce up your home with a touch of personality and style. Combining
fashion and function, lighting is one of the easiest ways to
rejuvenate a room, giving it an entirely fresh look and feel.
"Now more than ever, it's
easy to revitalize your home with simple accents like lamps,
mix-and-match lampshades and even light bulbs with color-enhancing
benefits," says Catherine Bailly Dunne, author of "Interior
Designing for All Five Senses." "We're seeing a surge
of stylish lamps -- both modern and retro -- dominating the market.
When used in a variety of styles, colors and designs, they can
help consumers breathe new life into their homes or simply provide
a new look for a new season."
With more than 60 percent of
consumers spending leisure time at home rather than out and about,
it's no surprise that home accents such as lamps and stylized
lampshade "separates" have become important fashion
accents in homes across the country.
Sometimes, refreshing a room
can be as easy as changing a light bulb. Bulbs like GE Reveal
filter out yellow rays common in ordinary light bulbs, making
colors, fabric, walls and artwork appear richer, crisper and
more vivid.
"It's amazing the impact
lighting has in our homes and in our lives," says Dunne.
In fact, in a recent survey by GE Lighting, nearly three quarters
of Americans said that light quality affects their moods. Survey
respondents overwhelmingly acknowledged the importance of good
lighting for a variety of home settings including romance (76
percent); dinner with friends (75 percent); watching a movie
(72 percent); cooking dinner (58 percent); taking a bath (50
percent); and even paying bills (33 percent).
When looking to update the
ambiance of a room, consider some simple and affordable lighting
accessories. For instance, popular animal-print lampshades might
evoke a sense of daring or adventure. Laced with beads, fringe,
sequins, appliqués and trendy crystals, lighting fixtures
can inspire playfulness and charm. And what better way to display
one's light-hearted nature than lighting a bedroom or den with
a whimsical character lamp.